Canopy Longsword Tallahassee, FL HEMA Club
Dedicated to teaching Historical European Martial Arts in the Tallahassee Area
Canopy Longsword Tallahassee, FL HEMA Club
Dedicated to teaching Historical European Martial Arts in the Tallahassee Area
About Canopy Longsword, Inc.
Mission Statement
Canopy Longsword is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) education and instruction in Tallahassee, FL. We welcome everyone and anyone in the greater Tallahassee area interested in learning HEMA in a safe and welcoming environment. Canopy Longsword is an Affiliate of the HEMA Alliance.
What is HEMA?
Have you ever wondered how it would feel to fight with a sword, dagger, or other medieval weapon? So has everyone who is interested in Historical European Martial Arts or HEMA. HEMA seeks to recreate the martial arts of medieval Europe from a mixture of guidance from historical sources and practical experience.
Who Can Join?
Our membership is open to anyone in the greater Tallahassee area interested in learning Historical European Martial Arts. Minors are required to have parent/guardian permission to participate (parents or guardians must sign the liability waiver). Minors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all club events.
Our Instructors
We are lucky to have two great volunteer instructors, with lots of HEMA and other martial arts experience, Pat Thomas (our founder) and Jason Vail (author of several dagger fighting manuals and more).
When can you start?
We hold public practices for beginners on the first Saturday of each month, 10 A.M. at Grassroots Free School.
The Address for Grassroots is:
2458 Grassroots Way, Tallahassee, FL 32311.
What are your costs?
Dues are $32 a month.
All members must have an active membership in the HEMA Alliance; this is covered by dues.
Your first two months at the club are free of charge while you decide if it is something you are interested in. You are covered by the club's HEMA Alliance insurance policy for that time period. After that you are required to pay monthly dues, part of which are used to purchase your annual HEMA Alliance membership. This membership allows you to participate in HEMA Alliance events and provides you the necessary insurance coverage to participate in our practices.
For families, dues will cover an adult and two minors of their family. Any additional minors pay dues of $15 monthly. Each participating family member will need to purchase HEMAA memberships through the club individually for $32 each annually.
What do we use dues for?
Dues are used to rent practice facilities, pay club insurance, purchase individual HEMA memberships through the club (a 50% discount), and to purchase club equipment. You will also need to purchase a HEMA Alliance membership through the club ($26 yearly with the club member discount). The HEMA Alliance fee covers your personal liability insurance and gets you discounts at several HEMA equipment stores. Our club is a nonprofit, and our staff is 100% volunteers. All dues and fees go to improving and supporting the club.
What do you need to bring for your first practice and does the club have gear that can be borrowed?
For your first practice, you only need to come in comfortable clothes and shoes appropriate for athletics. We have club gear and equipment for new participants.
Before your first practice, please view the safety policy and be prepared sign our liability waiver. You can email a signed copy of the waiver, bring it with you, or fill it out at practice. Guardians must fill out waivers for all minors.
What kind of gear will you need to get?
Review our safety policy and Intro to gear page to give you an idea of the kind of gear you will need to get eventually.
During your intro period, we will show you the gear and let you try a few different versions to get an idea of what types you like and what our club recommends.
Groin protection is a requirement for all male participants. We recommend you purchase a cup as soon as possible.
Why Should I do HEMA?
Maybe you a history buff, or just interested in sword play, or you are looking for a new martial art to try out, are interested in self-defense techniques,want a new social outlet, plan on dominating at tournaments, or just want to get some exercise. All of those are great reasons to be interested and there are many more. Come check out a practice and see if its for you. Hopefully you'll keep coming because it's fun. We welcome everyone and hope to see you on Saturday soon!
The Canopy Longsword "Tallywhackers" at Play
